for
Contacts between political parties would not
constitute recognition of the Taiwanese authorities,
but there could still be a risk of embarrassment in our
long-term relations with Peking if the admission of the
Kuomintang to the IDU were to lead to highly publicised
contacts between British Ministers and their Taiwanese
counterparts. Thus, it would not, I think, be in our interest for the Prime Minister to be photographed with Taiwanese leaders at the IDU meeting in Tokyo in
September; nor for us to be seen as among their sponsors
for international "recognition".
I gather from your conversation with Anthony Teasdale that the Germans, and possibly some others,
share these reservations. This is confirmed by the
result of such inquiries as I have been able to make. I
suggest therefore that on your arrival in Vancouver you
should concert with the CDU/CSU representatives.
If you
find yourself in good company, I would advise that you
vote against the admission of the KMT. If however, you
find no support for a negative vote, I hope that you can
· agree that the best course would be to abstain.
Anthony will try to be in touch with you before you
leave to give you a little more about the background to
all this.
Your sincerely, Richard Some (Rivate Searety)
GEOFFREY HOWE
(who wrote this letter belone departire for Hay Koup)
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